THE ONE THING I COULDN’T FORGIVE

A Deep Thoughts Devotional Story
© Opeyemi Akintunde
As Inspired by the LIVING WORD

Chuka had been the kind of man people described as “unshakeable.” Calm. Composed. Deeply spiritual. Until the day he opened an anonymous envelope containing photos of his younger sister with bruises, bruises caused by her husband, Dayo.

Dayo was a pastor. A well-loved voice in the Christian community. Chuka had even mentored him years back. The betrayal cut deep. The rage almost consumed him.

Chuka confronted Dayo with burning fury. But Dayo, broken and in tears, didn’t deny it. “I don’t know what came over me,” he muttered. “I’ve been in counseling. I’m getting help. I’m not who I was six months ago…”

But to Chuka, those words meant nothing. “You hurt blood,” he spat. “You’re dead to me.”

Months passed. Chuka carried the bitterness like a cross, publicly smiling, but inwardly vengeful. He couldn’t pray with ease. Scriptures felt dry. One night, he knelt and asked, “Lord, what’s wrong with me?”

The Spirit’s whisper hit like thunder:
“You’re choking on what I already forgave you for.”

In a moment, Chuka’s past flashed before him, how he once cheated on his final exams and almost cost his best friend a scholarship. How he once stole from his own mother. How he’d prayed, wept, and received mercy.

Then the verse came:
“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Matt. 18:33)

Chuka picked up his phone and typed a message to Dayo:
“You’re not excused. But I forgive you. Mercy found me too.”

****

Forgiveness doesn’t erase the pain, but it breaks the chain. We often forget how much mercy we ourselves have received. Like the unmerciful servant in Jesus’ parable, we hold people hostage for one offense while God has forgiven us of hundreds.

The truth? You can’t demand justice for others and keep mercy for yourself.

The deeper your awareness of God’s grace, the easier it is to extend grace to others.

*****

KEY SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 18:21–22 – “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’”

****

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, open my eyes to the many times You have forgiven me, so I can forgive others genuinely.

2. Father, heal the wounds in my heart and remove the bitterness that keeps me chained.

3. Help me extend grace to others as a reflection of the grace I have received from You.

******

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✍️ DEEP THOUGHTS DEVOTIONALS
Inspired by the TRUTH REVEALER
Written by Opeyemi Akintunde
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